Monterey radio stations KWAV, KBOQ change hands

MONTEREY &GT;&GT; Two Monterey radio stations, KWAV-FM and KBOQ-FM, have new owners in deals announced this week.

Mapleton Communications is buying KWAV from Buckley Broadcasting for an undisclosed price, increasing its holdings in the Monterey area that include KPIG, KKHK, KCDU and KHIP.

To clear the way for the KWAV acquisition, Mapleton is selling KBOQ to Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters of Los Angeles, according to a release from Mount Wilson.

Mount Wilson's other Monterey radio holdings are KYZZ, KMZT, KNRY and two other FM translators.

The KBOQ purchase "creates a cluster" for Mount Wilson in the Monterey Bay area comparable to radio industry giant Clear Channel and Mapleton, which operates stations in the western U.S., said Mount Wilson in its release.

Mapleton president Jim Shea said with KWAV the company will even be more of "an impact player in the Monterey market."

In another announcement, Mount Wilson said it is expanding coverage of K-MOZART, its all-classical FM station, with the addition of KNRY-1240 as a simulcast of K-MOZART. KNRY broadcasts from Cannery Row and its signal can be heard as far north as Berkeley, company said.